The goals are flying in for the Addicks now, with eight scored in the last three league and cup matches, which have yielded three wins in a row.
Last season surprise championship package Colchester are sitting pretty in midtable with only the one defeat to their name, so this will be a tough match, particularly as it is on the U’s home patch.
Vital Quotes:
Alan Pardew: ‘Three points is what I’m after.
‘They’re a good club and they create a special atmosphere there. It will be a bit of a cup-tie atmosphere so we need to be on our guard for a pretty lively game.
‘During the break, we’ve worked very hard on the next objective. The other games don’t matter now, it’s the next game that’s the important one at Colchester. We’ve worked on and talked about the problems that they’re going to give us and how we’re going to overcome them.’
Colchester Team News:
Clive Platt, after suspension and Jamie Guy return for the U’s, but Kevin Watson is unlikely to be risked. Karl Duguid is pushing for a starting role.
Player to watch: Kevin Lisbie
Lisbie will be looking to come back to haunt the Addicks.
Charlton Team News:
Alan Pardew has an embarrassment of riches to chose from, so it is more of a case of who will miss out than who will come in.
Izale McLeod, Luke Varney, who returned with a hat-trick in midweek, Lloyd Sam, Therry Racon, Madjid Bougherra and Sam Sodje are all pushing for places in the starting line up so Pardew has plenty to ponder. Osei Sankofa, Yassin, Ben Thatcher and Matt Holland are not quite ready.
Player to watch: Chris Iwelumo
Other players could be picked out, but like Lisbie coming up against his former side, Iwelumo will be wanting to come back to haunt the U’s.
Match Facts & Stats
In seven previous meeting between the Addicks and the U’s nothing can sepeare them as both sides have three wins apiece, with one draw.
January 1984 at Layer Road saw the last meeting between the sides as the Addicks edged victory in the third round of the FA Cup.
The two clubs have not been in the same division for 27-years, and during the 1980-81 season Colchester did the double over the addicks.
Ref Watch:
Referee: M P Russell
Assistants: G S Hambling & G R Young
Fourth Official: M D Stewart
Match Prediction:
The U’s are a very good side, even more so at Layer Road but I have this feeling that the Addicks will win a close fought match to make it three league wins on the spin.
Next Fixtures:
Norwich at the Valley on Tuesday.
Surely if we are to go back up this sort of match has to bring us 3 points.
Na, we”ll hold you to a draw or get all three points! Up the U’s!!!
I Think A Draw 1-1
You were lucky to get a draw, Iwelumo should be ashamed of himself the big Cheat!
I dont see how he cheated. If contacts made go down. Would Sheringham have stayed up? DOnt think so. It’s football happens up and down the country every Saturday
He went down to get a fellow pro sent off, I was not only disgusted for that reason but I had thought that Chris was an honest pro, he let himslef down on Sat, the tackle was far and the big man made the most of it!
Not just from a biased Addicks viewpoint, I have to agree with Dave, contact was made so he went down. If it wasn’t he wouldn’t have as he would have wanted to score.
Too true guys I understand that, then if he was not at fault the officials were, which ever it may be the resulting sending off should have never happened.
I agree the red card was harsh Deeno! But if he had kept on his feet he was through on goal. I think he would have prwefered to score than go down easy and get your defender sent off. He hasnt done anything so far at The Valley which makes me think hes a cheat. I think a yellow card would have been fair and to be honest it was a foul that deserved yellow and not red.
He’s a striker isn’t he, he wants to score a red card might not have meant anything to the Addicks, a goal would have. So harsh but the assistant is the one that drew it to the referees attention, so as you say they are to blame.
I don’t think Iwelumo dived, but there was contact, a free kick and a yellow would have been better.